Viral infections and diseases are one of the main factors influencing the outcome of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

In the context of antirejection treatment, viral replication and progression toward disease are related to patient, virus, and graft determinants. This complex interaction is modulated by the net balance of immunosuppression and its impact on virus-specific immune response. The development of immunosuppressive agents is based on our knowledge of mechanisms of T-cell activation, thus allowing for the identification of potential new targets. Recently developed immunosuppressive agents are able to determine a deep and prolonged immunosuppression, thus being associated to a reduced incidence of rejection and, on the other hand, an increased susceptibility to infections.

The immunologic control of viral replication in the immunocompromised host involves both the innate and adaptative immune response. In particular, adaptative immune responses of B and T lymphocytes are critical in determining the risk of viral reactivation. In recent years, beside virological monitoring in the transplant setting, viroimmunological evaluation has been proposed as a useful tool for clinical and therapeutic management.

We invite authors to submit original research and review articles that aim to stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the interplay between host and viruses in the transplant setting in order to define strategies for diagnostics, monitoring, and therapeutic management in both the prophylaxis and the pre-emptive context. We are particularly interested in articles that explore aspects of antiviral immunity, methods and significance of viroimmunological monitoring, as well as relation between antirejection therapies and viral reactivation in both solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Innate immune response to viral pathogens in transplant patients
• Adaptative immune response to viral pathogens in transplant patients
• Monitoring of virus-specific cellular immune response in transplant patients
• Development of new immunosuppressive agents and their impact of virus‑specific immunity in transplant patients
• Strategies for monitoring and diagnosing viral infections in transplant patients
• Impact of immunosuppressive agents on virus-specific immune response

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jir/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: